HTC Desire 12: release date, specs, and more

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The launch of the HTC U series was seen as the company’s exit from the budget market with an increased focus on midrange and high-end devices, but it seems we are in for a surprise.

The Taiwanese company is reportedly readying a budget phone codenamed HTC Breeze and believed to be the HTC Desire 12. This phone is said to bring over some features from the high-end market, something that is becoming common lately. Given that the information we have is not official, it’s also incomplete. But it’s enough for any smartphone enthusiast to smell that something is cooking.

HTC Desire 12 specs and features

The first budget HTC phone with an 18:9 design

A MediaTek processor touted

Android Oreo expected out of the box

HTC Desire 12 could look like U11 EYEs (above)

According to Evan Blass, the person responsible for the HTC Desire 12 leak, the phone will be the first from HTC to bring the trending 18:9 design to the entry-level market. Given that the screen size will be at 5.5 inches, you can expect a fairly compact phone. So far, we still don’t know the screen resolution of the Breeze, but since it’s a budget phone, we expect it to be HD+ (720 x 1440 pixels).

HTC's got an upcoming 5.5" phone, Breeze (second time as HTC codename), that's mostly notable for pushing full screen, 18:9 aspect ratio down to entry level. Therefore specs are nothing special (Mediatek SoC, 2/16GB, 13/5MP, 2730mAh, etc), and it should be priced to reflect that.

On the inside, the HTC Desire 12 will be powered by an unknown MediaTek processor mated with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Keeping it alive will be a fairly low-powered 2730mAh battery unit that should be charged via a microUSB port, but don’t expect fast charging.

On the back of the Breeze will be a 13MP sensor while the front will get a 5MP unit for selfies. Software-wise, Android Oreo is expected to power the phone out of the box.

HTC Desire 12 price and release date

MWC 2018 launch on the cards

Sub-$200 pricing expected

HTC is not expected to unveil the flagship U12 at the upcoming MWC 2018 event. Rather, the company has a special event scheduled for March, but the HTC Desire 12 could see an early launch, perhaps even at the MWC later this month.

As for the pricing, Blass says that it should be reflected in the specs of the phone. Looking at what the HTC Desire 12 has to offer, we see it as a sub-$200 smartphone. But knowing HTC, you might want to ready yourself for a major surprise.

Company’s OnePlus 5T competitor in the HTC U11 EYEs looks pretty good actually, going toe-to-toe with the best in the top-end budget segment, so we have hopes that HTC is able to shake things up in the low-end budget segment too with the Breeze.

A fan of all things Android. Not the geeky stuff, but the cool stuff. If not buried deep into the latest trends in technology, you'll find me enjoying a game of football. Real football. Oh, and I'm a staunch Chelsea FC fan.